Steering device for tricycles



`(No Model.)

1 E. P. HOWE.

STEERING DEVICE FOR TRIGYGLES. No. 344,531. Patented June 29, 1886.

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llrvrrnn 'raars Paritair tries@ EDVARD l?. HOW'E, OE NOETHBOROUGH, ASSlGNOR OF ONE-HALE TO' JOHN .T. SHAV AND CHARLES E. ROGERS, OF PLYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS.

STEERIING DEVICE FOR TRECYCLES.

EJPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 344,531, dated .Tune 29, 1886,

Application filed April 12, 1886. Serial No. 198.520. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern.

Beit known that I, EDWARD P. HOWE, of Northboronglii, county of Vorcester, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improve ment in Steering Devices for Tricyeles,of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specitieation, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object to provide a velocipede with an improved steering device which is simple, easily operated, and efficient in moving the steering-wheel of the machine, as desired.

The invention consists ot' a steering-rod attached to the usual fork astriding the steering-wheel, combined with a moving chain or cord, to which the steering-rod is connected, and a rotating hand-lever for moving the said `2o chain also ol" a steering-rod for movin the y e g steering-wheel combined with a moving chain or cord, and a slide-rod i'or connecting the steering-,rod with the chain or cord, and suitable pulleys, wheels, or drums about which the chain or eord passes, all as will be described.

In this instance of my invention the chain employed is passed around a grooved pulley and a sprocket-wheel, the latter being rotated by a hand rod or shaft and moving the chain,

the steering-rod being connected to a sliderod attached to the said chain at a point intermediate the pulley and wheel, so that as the chain is moved bythe hand-rod the slide- 5 rod is moved simultaneously therewith, the

slide-rod moving the steering-rod.

Figure 1,in longitudinal section, represents a tricycle embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a top view of the steering` device alone, and

Fig. 3 a detail to be referred to.

The main drive-wheels A, (but one showin) the steering-wheel B, its pivoted fork C, and frame-work D are and may be of any usual or suitable construction, and in this instance,

a band-brake, E, is shown as applied to a drum upon the main drive-shaft E. A bent arm, c, is attached to the frame-work D, and supports at its end a hand rod or shaft, b, having a hand-piece, I1', by which it may be rotated.

o A suitable frame consisting of a curved bar, c, is attached to the arm a, projecting at each side thereof. The forward end of said frame c serves as a bearing for the lower end of the hand-rod Y). A sprocket-wheel, e, is mounted fast upon the hand-rod b, (see Fig. 1,) while a grooved pulley, c', is mounted loose upon a pivot or stud, ci, adjustably held in the rear end of the trame c, the said pulley e lying in a plane parallel with the sprocket-wheel e, a chain, j", passing around the said sprocketwheel and pulley. The pivot or stud c2 upon which the pulley e is loosely mounted is extended from a squared block, e, (see Fig. 3,) which enters and is moved in a-rectangular guideway in the rear end ot' the frame c. 65 The shank of the block is n iadeadljustable horizontally by a screw, c, held loosely at one end, so that it may be rotated, but not moved longitudinally, the Y said screw entering a threaded portion of the said block or squared portion e. The pin c in the groove e, cut in the point or end ofthe screw, prevents longitudinal movement of the said screw c4 as it is turned. Longitudinal movement of the block or squared portion carrying the pivot c2 en- 75 ables the pulley e to be adj usted to compensate for the wear ofthe chain, or for chains of diierent lengths-as, for instance, should a link be broken, and the ends of the chain attached together, thereby shortening the chain. go The frame c at one side has arms m m', A which constitute bearings for a slide-rod, n, attached by pin a to the chain f at a point intermediate the sprocket-wheel and grooved pulley, so that as the hand-rod b is rotated in either direction, and the chain f caused to move in one or the other direction, the sliderod a is caused to move simultaneously therewith. A steering-rod, o, connected at one end with an arm or lever, 0', attached to the usual 90 fork, C, astridingthe steering-wheel, has its opposite end pivoted to the slide-rod a at a point intermediate its length, as at ol, so that as the slide-rod n is moved back and forth the steering-rod o will be correspondingly moved, and by means ot' the arm o move the steering-wheel B. lt will thus be seen that a very Y simple and positive movement is obtained for moving the steering-wheel, one which is not liable to get out of order, and which can be 10o readily repaired should it become accidentally injured. a

It is obvious that instead of employing a sprocket and grooved wheel and chain two drums connected by a suitable cord, to which the slide-rod is attached, could be employed,

5 and the results herein set forth obtained. It is also obvious that the slide-rod m can be omitted, in which instance the steering-rod o would be attached directly to the chain or eordf; but I preferably desire to employ the 1o slide-rod m, because the results obtained by its use are more positive and it is less liable to become injured.

I claiml. In a veloeipede, the steering-rod connect i5 ed with and controlling the movement of the steering-wheel combined with the slide-rod n, to which said steering-rod is pivotally connected about midway of the length of said Slide-rod, a chain mounted on pulleys and 2o connected to said slide-rod, and a handwheel on one of said pulleys for moving the chain and thereby the slide-rod and steering-rod7 substantially as described.

2. In a velocipede, the steeringrod connected with and controlling the movement of the 25 steering-wheel, and a chain or cord with which the steering-rod is connected, combined with the wheels e e', about which the said chain or cord passes, the wheel e being fast to the handrod l, and the wheel e being mounted upon 3o an adjustable pivot, 02, all substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD P. HOWE.

Vitnesses:

BERNICE J. N oYEs, F. GUTTER. 

